The Necessities of Life

The Necessities of Life

102 mins | Drama | Aug. 25, 2008

In 1952, an Inuit hunter named Tivii with tuberculosis leaves his northern home and family to go recuperate at a sanatorium in Quebec City. Uprooted, far from his loved ones, unable to speak French and faced with a completely alien world, he becomes despondent. When he refuses to eat and expresses a wish to die, his nurse, Carole, comes to the realization that Tivii's illness is not the most serious threat to his well-being. She arranges to have a young orphan, Kaki, transferred to the institution. The boy is also sick, but has experience with both worlds and speaks both languages. By sharing his culture with Kaki and opening it up to others, Tivii rediscovers his pride and energy. Ultimately he also rediscovers hope through a plan to adopt Kaki, bring him home and make him part of his family

The Necessities of Life

102 mins | Drama | Aug. 25, 2008

The Necessities of Life
In 1952, an Inuit hunter named Tivii with tuberculosis leaves his northern home and family to go recuperate at a sanatorium in Quebec City. Uprooted, far from his loved ones, unable to speak French and faced with a completely alien world, he becomes despondent. When he refuses to eat and expresses a wish to die, his nurse, Carole, comes to the realization that Tivii's illness is not the most serious threat to his well-being. She arranges to have a young orphan, Kaki, transferred to the institution. The boy is also sick, but has experience with both worlds and speaks both languages. By sharing his culture with Kaki and opening it up to others, Tivii rediscovers his pride and energy. Ultimately he also rediscovers hope through a plan to adopt Kaki, bring him home and make him part of his family
IMDb rating 7.6
Producers Téléfilm Canada, Astral Media, ACPAV, Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit Fund (CPTC), Société Radio-Canada, SODEC, Super Écran, APTN
Original title Ce qu'il faut pour vivre
Directors Benoît Pilon
Writers Bernard Émond

Cast

Natar Ungalaaq

as Tiivii

Éveline Gélinas

as Carole

Louise Marleau

as Soeur Luce

Guy Thauvette

as Dr. Montpetit

Antoine Bertrand

as Roger

Denis Bernard

as Père Millaire

Luc Proulx

as L'horloger

Miali Buscemi

as Qupanuaq

Ann-Sophie Archer

as Infirmière de jour

Alexandre Thériault

as Patient jaloux

Frédérick Bouffard

as Patient agonisant

Caroline Tanguay

as Infirmière de nuit

Jacques-Henri Gagnon

as L'archevêque

Serge Bonin

as L'aumônier

Guillaume Saladin

as Interprète blanc

Pierre-Antoine Simard-Lafond

as Aide-infirmier

Stéphane-Antoine Comtois

as Membre d'équipage

Élisapie

as Mère inuk malade

Sylvain Brosseau

as Infirmier-chauffeur

Annie Neevee Pitsiulak

as Fille de Tiivii (9 ans)

Annie S. Kootoo

as Fille de Tiivii (5 ans)

Patrick Brown

as Patient mourant

Jocelyn Pelletier

as Patient salle commune

Nicola-Frank Vachon

as Patient salle commune

Jean-Claude Godbout

as Patient salle commune

Jean-Alexandre Létourneau

as Patient salle commune

André Duval

as Barbier

Christian Morin

as Préposé

Corinne Germain

as Religieuse au chevet

Jean-René Moisan

as Stagiaire

Martin Perreault

as Stagiaire

Josée-Gabrielle Labar

as Bénévole

Aline Bouchard

as Bénévole

Michael Buscemi

as Bébé inuk

Karina Luzia Desmarais

as Infirmière

Amira Cheriet

as Infirmière

Suzann Méthot

as Infirmière

Jod Léveillé-Bernard

as Patient voisin

Steeve Gagné

as Infirmier costaud

Maxime Allen

as Jeune prêtre

Serge Thibodeau

as Fermier

Gilbert Fontaine

as Technicien radiologiste

Gilbert Marcoux

as Brancardier

Danielle Martel

as Soeur

Jeannie Kownirk

as Mère